Time for a new phone number...

[GKNByNW]

...but now I can't find the option on virginmobileusa.com. I thought I had seen a link on VM's website a while back to get a new number but maybe it was my imagination...? I *REALLY* do not want to spend 40 minutes tearing out what's left of my hair struggling to understand the accents of Ranji, Rasheesh or Tahib just to do a 10 minute job.

Is my only option now to let the phone lapse and then activate a new account? I really hope not... Help?!?

 

[raillard]

I just checked their website, and the option to get a new phone number is still there: Log into "Manage My Account", then click the "Phone, Apps & More" tab. On the left column of shortcuts is a "Change Phone Number" link. I think it costs $10 to make the change, and you also cannot port a number in and keep a grandfathered $25/mo. plan. You can keep the grandfathered plan if you don't mind an assigned phone number in your chosen area code.

 

[Meerky]

If I remember, I think they would change the number for free if you were getting harrassing phone calls on the old number and needed to make a change for that reason. Not sure if they still do that, this was a few years ago, but it wouldn't hurt to call them quick and ask.

 

[GKNByNW]

I just checked their website, and the option to get a new phone number is still there: Log into "Manage My Account", then click the "Phone, Apps & More" tab. On the left column of shortcuts is a "Change Phone Number" link. I think it costs $10 to make the change, and you also cannot port a number in and keep a grandfathered $25/mo. plan. You can keep the grandfathered plan if you don't mind an assigned phone number in your chosen area code.

I haven't had the $25 plan for quite some time as I need more minutes for work calls. Thanks for the info.

If I remember, I think they would change the number for free if you were getting harrassing phone calls on the old number and needed to make a change for that reason. Not sure if they still do that, this was a few years ago, but it wouldn't hurt to call them quick and ask.

As a matter of fact, I AM getting harassing calls. Even though I know who is doing it I haven't made it a police matter. It's much easier for me to simply change my number and have her out of my life completely than to drag it out through the court system. You are correct in that it wouldn't hurt to call and ask, but every time I call VM's customer "service" I end up wanting to scream from the stupid voice prompts and the representatives that I can't understand.

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

EDIT: I just looked at the Change Phone Number section and it didn't say anything about having to pay $10, but I didn't go all the way through with it. I'm going to hold off a few weeks until my month is over and do it then in case there are, in fact, extra fees.

 

[Meerky]

I've been lucky the majority of times I've had to call Virgin and have gotten pretty decent reps. The one time I got someone who just didn't seem to be grasping the problem (and probably reading template answers that didn't apply), I simply hung up and called back the next day to get someone else.

If you can tolerate calling them once to get it over with, I'm pretty sure there was no penalty for the changed number, no proof required with police report numbers, etc., it was a quick process, and it didn't change my monthly billing so nothing was lost for the current month. They were actually pretty accommodating about it all.

But in the meantime, at least set their number(s) to a silent ringtone, have them sent immediately to your voicemail (and then just ignore then). If it's just from a few numbers, Virgin can block those numbers permanently, but again, you have to call them to do that (at least I don't think you can do that through the website).